By Devon Evans and Francine Black, Gleaner Writer/Staff ReporterHEAVY RAINFALL in St. Ann on Saturday resulted in several roads being blocked and the flooding of several business places. In some areas the water supply was affected.
The rain, which has been affecting most of the parish since last week Monday, seriously damaged two water supply plants, causing many residents, including some from neighbouring St. Mary, to be out of water.
The heavy rainfall caused flood waters to rise and triggered landslides at various points along the Ocho Rios to Discovery Bay main road, including Laughlands, Cardiff Hall, the St. Ann's Bay roundabout and the Drax Hall main road. There were also roadblocks on the Lime Hall to St. Ann's Bay road and on Milford Road, Ocho Rios. Motorists, including tourists, trying to get to and from Montego Bay, had to detour.
Water from Fern Gully badly damaged Milford Road and flooded several business places on Main Street, Ocho Rios.
Businesses that were badly affected included the Texaco service station at the corner of Millford Road and Main Street and Seow's Super Centre. There were also reports of flooding in the Exchange area.
At the National Water Commission's (NWC) White River treatment plant on the St. Ann-St. Mary border, a local representative said that several pipes were washed away leaving some St. Mary communities such as Charles Town, the St. Mary Country Club, Retreat and Cascade, without piped water.
The NWC worker also reported damage to the Bogue treatment plant in Ocho Rios, which supplies water to sections of Port Maria.
Business people in Ocho Rios were surprised on Saturday when water began seeping through their doors, damaging merchandise.
"I had to send the customers away for their own safety. I mean the bus was outside and I told them they had to go," Harry Sadhwani, manager of Gem Palace, told The Gleaner yesterday.
His shop was flooded to the point where he had to get assistance from the local fire brigade.
Mr. Sadhwani, like other business people in the town, said the problem could have been averted had better drainage been in place.
"Ocho Rios needs a better drainage system. The one we have here is very poor," he said.
At Seow's Super Centre water flowed through the front and back doors, damaging foodstuff.
The manager said the damage was contained by placing sandbags at the entrance, stemming the rush of water into the store.
She also expressed the need for urgent attention be paid to drainage, noting that continuous flooding would only result in "higher insurance premiums."
The National Works Agency has been clearing blocked drains on Milford Road in an effort to force the water back to its normal route.
A tractor was being used to remove the obstacle which caused the major blockage of a drain. While this work was being done traffic was diverted through a nearby housing scheme.
